There will also be Athletica Vaticana at the starting line of the 10K competitive and 3K non-competitive San Francesco Marathon. The official multi-sports team of the Holy See has joined the project and will participate in the event with about forty athletes.
"Athletica Vaticana," said President Giampaolo Mattei, "adheres to and embraces this initiative promoted in Assisi of a race on the roads of St. Francis and St. Clare. And it does so because this event is part of the horizon indicated by our exceptional coach, Pope Francis, of support and attention to the most fragile people. I believe that sport can be a vehicle of encounter. It would be nice, as happens in cycling as well as in marathons, that we slow down to bring back those who lag behind. A gesture that should also apply in social work and not only in sport.
The presence of Athletica Vaticana in Assisi will not end with the participation in the sports event on Sunday, November 6, but will also see us engaged in two different moments. On the previous day, Saturday 5 November, there will be a meeting with people with disabilities from the Serafico Institute in Assisi and, afterwards, in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi, the marathon runner's mass will be celebrated with the blessing of the athletes to try to live this sporting experience as a community.
This, with great humility, is the meaning of the embrace that Athletica Vaticana gives to Assisi, thanking those who thought of doing a marathon by relaunching the very topical testimony of St. Francis who urged to prove with deeds and then with words; in our case with running and sport. And we will try to do this'.
These are the appointments of Athletica Vaticana in its Pilgrimage to Assisi
Saturday 05 November
Sunday 06 November
